Even if we don’t take 4th this season, the fact that we are arguably in pole position at this late stage is, to me, so, so impressive. I have been saying since the beginning and throughout the season that I fully expected us to end up 6th or 7th. This hadn’t changed until after the Chelsea game. A quite remarkable week of results. In fact, remove the Sunderland blip (and erase the memory, god we were poor that day) and we have done exceptionally well in the league since the away defeat at Wolves on February 10th, especially whilst juggling a cup run, and with injuries to key players:

Chelsea (H) – W 2-1
Arsenal (H) – W 2-1
Sunderland (A) – L 3-1
Portsmouth (H) – W 2-0
Stoke (A) – W 2-1
Blackburn (H) – W 3-1
Everton (H) – W 2-1
Wigan (A) – W 3-0

Seven wins in eight games….magnificent.

I wrote earlier in the season regarding our issues with “bouncing back” in games, and I still have concerns over our mental strength within games. That said, our ability to bounce back after poor results has markedly improved. No longer do we seem to slump for what seems like half a season. Instead, we bounced back after the Wolves defeat by thrashing Wigan. We bounced back after the semi-final defeat by beating two of our biggest rivals. Whether we have Redknapp, his coaching staff, or a little of both to thank for this new-found belief, I salute them – it’s been a long time coming.

Regardless of where we finish, this season has seen us take huge strides in the right direction. Not only have we “earned more points (61), conceded joint-fewest goals (33) & won more games (18) than in any Premier League season” (optajoe), but we’ve finally ended our “Big Three” hoodoo! Another opta stat: “During the “noughties” [Tottenham] won just three of their 61 league matches against Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd, but have now won two in the space of four days and face United on Saturday.”

All this whilst remembering last season, where we had how many points after how many games, Harry?

In all seriousness, we aren’t getting the attention that we deserve in the press. This is probably partially because Spurs fans have notoriously been seen as cocky, despite a poor PL record, and also because most people (wrongly) see the top 5 as our natural position, based purely on our recent spending. According to transferleague, we have the 4th highest net spend in the Premier League years. Of course, that doesn’t take into account that our wage bill is, for example, approximately half of Arsenal’s.

Our Premier League finishes to date have been:

08/09 8th
07/08 11th
06/07 5th
05/06 5th
04/05 9th
03/04 14th
02/03 10th
01/02 9th
00/01 12th
99/00 10th
98/99 11th
97/98 14th
96/97 10th
95/96 8th
94/95 7th
93/94 15th
92/93 8th

Quite remarkable that we have only finished in the Premier League’s top 6 three times, only qualified for Europe three times, and are still seen as expected to finish in these sorts of positions. Wherever we finish this year, we should not underestimate Redknapp’s achievements.

Finally, a special mention to Gareth Bale. With Lennon out, a number of players have stepped up to the plate and shown glimpses of their ability – Modric , Kranjcar, and even Bentley have, in fits and starts, allowed us to cope without Lennon. But nobody has stepped up to quite the same extent as Gareth Bale.

I think most Spurs fans knew that he was talented and hoped that one day he would come good, be it at left back or left midfield (still the debate rumbles on). But I don’t think that anyone could have predicted the impact that he has had. I don’t think it’s over-egging it to say that he has almost single-handedly won us points, and he has been an absolute pleasure to watch.

That said, I submitted my Player of the Year vote this week, and opted for Michael Dawson – an absolute rock for us who should, without a shadow of a doubt, be travelling to South Africa this summer. To think that anyone believes that Matthew Upson is a better player than him is quite worrying.

I pray that our form continues against United today – some points at Old Trafford would be an unexpected delight. COME ON YOU SPURS!

What a difference a week makes. Absolutely battered by Sunderland where, let’s be honest, it could have been six. Beaten at Wembley, albeit with luck against us. Yet we come back to beat two of the current top three. Even more impressive when you take our recent record against them into account:

Optajoe: Can Tottenham continue to be a spanner in the works for the current “Big Three” sides? During the “noughties” they won just three of their 61 league matches against Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd, but have now won two in the space of four days and face United on Saturday.

Yesterday’s performance against Chelsea was incredible. Now, I don’t for a minute think that Chelsea were anywhere near their best – the space they afforded us was unexpected to say the least. But the way we took them apart was magnificent, and we could have won far more comfortably had Mr Pavlyuchenko had his shooting boots on.

I analysed all three goals in the Arsenal game, but in this article I’m going to focus solely on the Chelsea goal, as ours were a bit more straightforward.

Lampard’s goal.

The ball is slid wide to Ballack and, aside from the fact that we’re not quick out to meet him, we’re fairly well set, with Kaboul tucked in, Bentley in a decent defensive position, and Huddlestone sat in front of the defence.

Assou-Ekotto comes out to meet Ballack, but he still has time and space to deliver. Yet, at this point, it seems that he has no-one to deliver to.

This is what Chelsea, and Lampard in particular, are all about. Ballack just feeds a ball into that area – behind the defence, and in front of the goalkeeper. Between the previous image and this one, Lampard has got on his bike. He has left Huddlestone, who passes him on to Kaboul -fairly standard.

But Lampard has the momentum, whereas Kaboul is caught on his heels.

Lampard slides to meet the cross (which, by the way, is a beauty).

Gomes has no chance.

Top piece of play from Chelsea, one of the few moments of quality that they showed in the match. You can almost accept conceding from these sorts of moves, as it is a excellent ball, and impressive desire from Lampard. However, Chelsea created so little throughout the rest of the game – mainly thanks to another wonderful team performance. Our defensive shape over the last two games has been very impressive – we look compact and organised.

It could be argued that our hand has almost been forced by Palacios’ suspension but, for me, Huddlestone has been exceptional in the holding role – I must admit that I didn’t think he had it in him. We all know that, given time and space, he is a devastating passer of the ball, and also a player that keeps the ball moving well. However, his last two displays have been reminiscent of Carrick, who played that role so well for us. Where Palacios likes to get close to players, Huddlestone (and Modric to an extent) have instead just positioned themselves to limit the options. Both Arsenal and Chelsea really struggled to break us down as a result. I wouldn’t change that for the United match.

Full marks too to the full-backs and wingers, who have all also played an underrated role in the last two wins. In fact, everyone has played a part, not least Redknapp, who has out-thought two of the best tacticians in world football. Remarkable.

Closing thought – only two of the players that started yesterday (Bassong and Kaboul) weren’t signed by a Director of Football. Maybe there was merit in that system after all?

Follow me on Twitter: @WindyCOYS.

Like many other Spurs fans, I’m sure, I’ve had a pretty good day today.
It had been far, far too long.

As an aside, before I launch into my analysis of the goals, I’d say that Redknapp’s Sun column is worth a read today.

It’s good to see Huddlestone get a special mention – I thought he was exceptional in a slightly unfamiliar role on Wednesday evening, but not many seem to have picked up on his performance.

He played the holding role, and was so disciplined and clever throughout the game. When Modric and Palacios have played together, they’ve both been here, there and everywhere. With Huddlestone in there, Modric could wander, safe in the knowledge that Tom had his back. Now, I don’t think that Huddlestone is, therefore, a better bet as the more defensive-minded midfield player, but I think that the emphasis has to be on the partnership.

If only he could weigh in with a few more goals, I think he would get the chance for England that he probably deserves.

Rose’s goal.

Spurs prepare to take a corner – I think we will have fancied our chances from corners, as Almunia isn’t particularly good on crosses, and Arsenal were also missing Gallas and Song.

As it happens, Almunia actually gets quite good distance on his punch. However, he then falls over rather dramatically…

As Almunia scrambles to his feet, he bumps into a defender (possibly Campbell), and this stops him retreating to his line quickly. Rose claims that he was initially going to bring the ball down, but decided to strike it first time at the last minute.

His technique is spot on. Will he ever strike a ball better?

Almunia simply can’t scramble back quick enough, and it goes in just over his head.

I loved Alan Parry’s “WHAAAAT A GOOOOOAL!” commentary!

Bale’s goal.

Bale’s goal couldn’t have come at a better time – straight after the restart.

A long ball finds Defoe wide on the left. He actually mis-controls it, as it hits his heel and bounces off, which probably does us a favour.

Instead of trying to run in behind, he holds the ball up really well.

Assou–Ekotto makes an excellent run, which takes some of the emphasis off Bale, who is now looking to move in behind the centre back.

Whether Defoe is just feeding this into an area or intentionally looking for Bale is regardless – it’s a tremendous ball.

Perfectly weighted for Bale to stroll on to it, safely onside, due to Sagna’s absolute ineptitude.

It looks as though he needs to take it round Almunia and finish with his right.

But isn’t that a calm finish with his left? Great move, great finish.

Bendtner’s goal.

We could have done without the nervous last five minutes!!

Robin van Persie made a huge difference, coming on against some tired legs. Here, he has dropped off, and holds the ball up on the edge of the area. Modric probably isn’t close enough, and Dawson and King should perhaps be a little more aware of Bendtner’s position, as they have left Assou–Ekotto to deal with him. Having said that, Assou–Ekotto could probably have stepped up and played Walcott offside.

It’s a nicely-weighted pass for Walcott, who still has quite a bit to do. Bendtner’s in an offside position, but isn’t active.

All those bodies back mean that Walcott’s pass has to be inch perfect. In fairness, he gets it absolutely spot on.

Bedntner bundles the ball home, and leaves us with a tense finale.

However, we needn’t have worried, as a certain someone had, I would imagine, the best twenty minute performance of his life. Exceptional….

OK, that may be pushing it, but you get the general idea.

I was sick of hearing Andy Gray talking about how many players Arsenal were missing last night (Fabregas, Gallas, Arshavin, van Persie and Song are the ones who would start), especially when we were without key players too in Lennon, Woodgate, Corluka, Kranjcar and Palacios.

We have copied with injuries quite remarkably this season – players previously thought of as squad players (Pavlyuchenko, Bale and Huddlestone) have cemented themselves in the team, and competition for first team places will be very strong when we get all of our players back.